Method and/or system for extending payment system architectures and/or legacy order processing systems to mobile commerce applications via text messaging

ABSTRACT

A text message order processing system includes: means for receiving text messages from consumers purchasing products, each of the text messages being addressed to an address selected by the consumer and including an identification of the product being purchased and an identification of a device from which the text message was sent; means for parsing each text message to extract the identification of the product and the identification of the device; means for selecting a payment instrument to be used to pay for the purchase; means for establishing payment information related to the selected payment instrument and delivery information indicating where the purchased product is to be delivered; means for generating for each received text message an order including the established payment information, delivery information and identification of the product being purchased; and, means for submitting the generated order to an order management system of the merchant.

This application is a Continuation of Divisional application Ser. No.12/986,388, filed Jan. 7, 2011, which claims the benefit of applicationSer. No. 11/492,384, filed Jul. 25, 2006, which claims the benefit ofU.S. Provisional Application No. 60/702,165, filed Jul. 25, 2005.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

The present inventive subject matter relates to the art of mobilecommerce. One particular application is found in conjunction with amobile telecommunication device used to conduct authenticatedtransactions, and the specification makes particular reference thereto.However, it is to be appreciated that aspects of the present inventivesubject matter are also amenable to other like applications.

2. Background

The general purpose of the present inventive subject matter is toprovide a system and/or method that allows consumers to securelypurchase items or carry out commercial or other similar transactions inreal time using mobile telephones or other similar devices to textmessage (e.g., via a short message service (SMS) or the like)instructions for a particular purchase or order to a designated addressor other like destination.

Commonly, merchants (or their proxies) employ various channels, e.g.,shop-from-home television networks, general television programmingand/or advertising, radio broadcasts and/or advertising, catalogshopping and/or other similar channels, to sell their goods and/orservice. Commercial transactions resulting from the aforementionedchannels have in the past been typically carried out using traditionalmail order/telephone order (MOTO) systems, Internet based orderingand/or purchasing systems, and the like. Many of such merchants are notequipped to interpret or accept text message purchase instructions ororders. Accordingly, the present inventive subject matter provides a wayin which text message initiated transactions (i.e., purchases and/ororders) may be processed for merchants that are otherwise not equippedto interpret the text message instructions.

SUMMARY

A suitable embodiment of the present inventive subject matter leveragesthe current mobile telephone and/or SMS architecture as well as currentelectronic payment methods (e.g. Visa®, MasterCard®, American Express®,Discover®, JCB®, PayPal®, private label accounts, etc.) processingarchitectures and legacy payment systems to allow secure transactions tobe carried out over these legacy systems that have been initiated via anSMS message using a mobile or other SMS enabled device. In oneembodiment, a consumer, in possession of a PayPal® or other like paymentaccount, while viewing products being sold on a shop-from-hometelevision network, initiates a purchase transaction by sending paymentinstructions via SMS to an SMS shortcode (or some other like address,telephone number or some similar destination identifier) appearing onthe television screen. Suitably, a system for processing theinstructions receives that SMS message and passes appropriateinformation into the shop-from-home network's legacy order processingand/or management system. This information can include identifyinginformation about the consumer (e.g., name, address, telephone number)as well as suitable payment information. Optionally, the system alsocommunicates with a payment method processing system or network andreturns a request to the consumer via SMS to reply with their passwordor personal identification number (PIN), thereby helping to ensure thesecurity of the transaction, at which time the payment processing systemauthorizes the transaction or rejects it based on whether the passwordand/or PIN is valid, whether sufficient funds are available and/or otherconsiderations. Suitably, once the authorization and payment process hasbeen completed, notification of the successful or unsuccessfulcompletion of the transaction is passed back to the consumer via an SMSmessage.

Alternate embodiments include, but are not limited to iterationsenabling SMS initiated transactions for products advertised ontelevision, paid television programs (infomercials), products featuredin general television programming segments, products advertised in radioprogramming, catalog or print media and/or advertising, etc.

In accordance with one embodiment, a method of conducting a commercialtransaction includes: receiving a text message from a first partypurchasing a product from a second party, the text message beingaddressed to an address selected by the first party and including anidentification of the product being purchased and an identification of adevice from which the text message was sent; parsing the text message toextract the identification of the product and the identification of thedevice from the text massage; selecting based upon the received textmessage a payment instrument to be used to pay for the purchase;establishing payment information related to the selected paymentinstrument and delivery information indicating where the purchasedproduct is to be delivered; generating an order including theestablished payment information, delivery information and identificationof the product being purchased; and, submitting the generated order toan order management system of the second party.

In accordance with another embodiment, a text message order processingsystem including: means for receiving text messages from consumerspurchasing products from one or more merchants, each of the textmessages being addressed to an address selected by the consumer andincluding an identification of the product being purchased and anidentification of a device from which the text message was sent; meansfor parsing each text messages to extract the identification of theproduct and the identification of the device from the text massage;means for selecting based upon each received text message a paymentinstrument to be used to pay for the purchase; means for establishingpayment information related to the selected payment instrument anddelivery information indicating where the purchased product is to bedelivered; means for generating for each received text message an orderincluding the established payment information, delivery information andidentification of the product being purchased; and, means for submittingthe generated order to an order management system of the merchant.

In accordance with another embodiment, a method of processing a textmessage includes: receiving a first text message from a first party, thefirst text message including an identification of information beingsought by the first party; generating a request for the identifiedinformation, the request being in a format other than a text messageformat; submitting the request to a server having access to theidentified information; obtaining the identified information from theserver, the obtained information being in a format other than a textmessage format; including the obtaining information in a second textmessage; and, a sending the second text message back to the first party.

In accordance with another embodiment, a method of conducting acommercial transaction includes: receiving a text message from a firstparty making a purchase from a second party; identifying based upon thereceived text message a payment account of the first party to be used topay for the purchase; sending a communication to a third party thatmaintains the payment account for the first party to determine if thepayment account has sufficient funds available to make the purchase; andif sufficient funds are available, then instructing the third party toreserve those funds, generating an order for the purchase, submittingthe generated order to the second party, assuming an obligation to payfor the order on behalf of the first party, and seeking restitution forthe obligation to pay for the order out of the reserved funds.

Numerous advantages and benefits of the inventive subject matterdisclosed herein will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in theart upon reading and understanding the present specification.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present inventive subject matter may take form in various componentsand arrangements of components, and in various steps and arrangements ofsteps. The drawings are only for purposes of illustrating preferredembodiments and are not to be construed as limiting. Further, it is tobe appreciated that the drawings are not to scale.

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic illustration showing a transaction processingsystem embodying aspects of the present inventive subject matter.

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic illustration showing an alternate embodiment ofa transaction processing system embodying aspects of the presentinventive subject matter.

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic illustration showing another alternateembodiment of a transaction processing system embodying aspects of thepresent inventive subject matter.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference to FIG. 1, a consumer 10 (which when referred to hereinshall include any purchaser) employs a device 12 to initiate acommercial transaction, e.g., to make a purchase or place an order. Thepurchase or order is optionally for any one or more desired products(which when referred to herein shall also include services) offered forsale by a merchant 20 (which when referred to herein shall include anyseller or their agent or proxy). Suitably, the purchased product orproducts are optionally presented for sale to the consumer 10 via asuitable media and/or sales channel. For example, the products may bepresented on a television tuned to a shop-from-home network or aninfomercial or a television advertisement or another television program;or they may be presented via a radio program or advertisement; or theymay be presented in a catalog or print advertisement; etc.

In a suitable embodiment, the device 12 is a mobile telephone or otherlike device equipped or otherwise enabled to send and/or receive textmessages, e.g., via SMS or another like text message service orprotocol. Suitably, the purchase is made or the order placed by theconsumer 10 appropriately manipulating or otherwise using the device 12to send a text message 14 to a designated destination identified, e.g.,by an SMS shortcode, a telephone number, or some other appropriate textmessage destination address. In the usual manner, when the text message14 is sent, it includes in a header or the like or is otherwise packagedor associated with an origination identifier (ID) that indicates whereor which device the message 14 originated from. For example, where thedevice 12 is a mobile telephone, the origination ID is optionally thetelephone number assigned to or otherwise associated with the device 12.

As shown in FIG. 1, the message 14 is received by a text messagepurchase and/or order processing system 30 that serves the merchant 20.Suitably, the system 30 is implemented as a server or other appropriatecomputer (including the typical adjunct components thereof, e.g.,memory, data storage devices, central processing unit, etc.) thatexecutes software instructions and/or supports one or more computerprograms running thereon, so as to carry out the functions, operationsand/or processes described herein as being performed by the system 30.While FIG. 1 shows the system 30 serving only one merchant 20 forpurposes of simplicity and clarity herein, it is to be appreciated thatthe system 30 in practice serves a plurality of merchants (i.e., one ormore) similarly equipped and/or situated. Suitably, the system 30 isprovisioned with one or more separate SMS shortcodes or other textmessage addresses for each merchant served. Accordingly, the system 30differentiates and/or identifies which merchant a particular receivedtext message 14 relates to based upon the particular SMS shortcode orother like destination ID to which the text message 14 is addressed.Alternately, one or more merchants may share a common shortcode ordestination address, in which case, the consumer 10 includes in the bodyof the text message 14 a key word or other identifier that specifies themerchant to which the text message 14 relates.

The body of the text message 14 also optionally includes orderinstructions, delivery instructions and/or payment instructions. Theorder instructions suitably identify the product or products beingpurchased (e.g., using a designated product code, product description orthe like) and optionally a quantity. The delivery instructions suitablyidentify an address or other like destination indicating where thepurchased products are to be delivered. The payment instructionsoptionally identify a type of payment instrument or payment method beingused (e.g. Visa®, MasterCard®, American Express®, Discover®, JCB®,PayPal®, a private label account, etc.), a card or account number or auser name associated with the account, a card expiration date, a billingaddress associated with the payment instrument or account, an accountholder's name, etc.

Optionally, the system 30 includes or otherwise has access to a customerinformation system (CIS) database (DB) 31 in which certain informationrelating to the consumer 10 is maintained. Accordingly, by having thisinformation “on file,” it may be omitted from the text message 14.Suitably, the consumer 10 is optionally identified by the system 30based upon the origination ID included or otherwise associated with thereceived text message 14. For example, when the device 12 is a mobiletelephone, the consumer 10 may be identified based upon the telephonenumber from which the text message 14 originated. The CIS DB 31 isoptionally accessed to obtain the relevant information for theidentified consumer 10, e.g., the consumer's name, their delivery and/orbilling addresses, etc. Additionally, the consumer may optionally haveone or more payment instruments and/or method associated with theirrecord or file in the CIS DB 31, including the relevant informationassociated therewith. Accordingly, when the consumer 10 sends the textmessage 14 they may merely have to identify which of the paymentinstruments/methods on record should be used for the particularpurchase. Of course, if only one payment instrument/method is on recordin the CIS DB 31 for the consumer 10, then that paymentinstrument/method and/or its associated payment information may be usedby default, or one of multiple payment instruments/methods on record maybe designated as the default.

In one suitable embodiment, the relevant information to be included inthe text message 14 by the consumer 10 is supplied on or in the mediapresentation providing the purchased product for sale to the consumer10. That is to say, the media presentation may optionally communicate tothe consumer 10 what information to include in the text message 14 andwhere the text message 14 is to be sent. For example, the mediapresentation may show and/or announce “to purchase item X, text productcode A1B2 to the SMS shortcode 555123.” The format of the data, whichdata is to be included and/or the order in which the data is to beincluded in the body of the text message may be communicated to theconsumer 10 via the media presentation, or it may be prearranged orotherwise determined, or some combination thereof.

Upon receipt of the text message 14, it is parsed by the system 30 andthe particular information and/or data elements are identified.Therefrom, an appropriate order 32 is prepared by the system 30 and theorder 32 is submitted to an order processing system or order managementsystem (OMS) 22 of the merchant 20. Suitably, the OMS 22 is atraditional or legacy OMS into which the merchant enters traditionalMOTO transactions in the usual manner, and the order 32 is submitteddirectly thereto from the system 30. Suitably, for the OMS 22 toproperly process an order, the order preferably includes or contains therelevant purchase or order information which is organized and/orformatted in a particular manner designated by the particular OMS, e.g.,the orders may include a number of fields that are populated with theappropriate data elements. Accordingly, the system 30 arranges,translates and/or otherwise manipulates the data elements or informationreceived from the text message 14 (and/or where appropriate obtainedfrom the CIS DB 31) such that the order 32 conforms to the designatedformat appropriate for the OMS 22 to which it is being sent. Forexample, the system 30 optionally formats particular data elementsreceived in the text message 14 or obtained from the CIS DB 31 andenters them into the appropriate fields designated by the OMS 22 so thatthe order 32 conforms thereto.

As shown in FIG. 1, the OMS 22 processes orders and submits thetransactions for payment processing in the usual manner to a paymentsystem or network 40 that corresponds to the payment instrument ormethod employed for the respective purchase. Optionally, with certaintypes of transaction and/or for particular payment methods, the system30 is further engaged to assist in the payment processing. For example,some transactions may involve an authentication protocol or initiativeprescribed by the payment network 40 or the payment method may be suchthat additional security information or authentication credentials aresought from the consumer 10 to complete the payment processing. Suchauthentication protocols (e.g., Visa's 3-D Secure®, a.k.a. Verified byVisa (VbV), MasterCard's SecureCode®, and the like) are described inU.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/647,883, filed Jan. 28, 2005,and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/340,887, filed Jan. 27, 2006,which are both incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. Otherpayment methods (e.g., PayPal®), similarly may similarly seekauthentication credentials (e.g., a password or the like) from theconsumer 10 prior to authenticating or authorizing a transaction.

In general, the system 30 retrieves or otherwise requests the desiredauthentication credentials from the consumer 10 and returns them to thepayment network 40. Optionally, any authentication results generated bythe payment network 40 are then obtained by the system 30 from thepayment network 40 and forwarded to the consumer 10. Suitably, in thiscapacity, the system 30 is implemented and/or functions essentially asdescribed in the aforementioned Provisional U.S. Patent Application60/647,883 and/or U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/340,887.

With reference to FIG. 1, in a suitable embodiment, the payment network40 signals the system 30 or the system 30 is otherwise prompted toobtain authentication credentials from the consumer 10. In responsethereto, the system 30 sends an SMS or other text message 50 to thedevice 12 requesting that consumer 10 reply with the appropriatecredentials (e.g., a password, PIN, etc.). The consumer 10 thenmanipulates or otherwise employs the device 12 to return an SMS or othertext message 52 to the system 30, e.g., including therein the requestedcredentials. Having received the text message 52, the system 30 parsesthe message 52 and/or identifies the credentials returned by theconsumer 10. These returned credentials are then optionally formattedand/or otherwise appropriately arranged as designated or expected by thepayment network 40, and they are forwarded thereto. Suitably, based onthe credentials received by the payment network 40 from the system 30,an authentication and/or authorization determination is made.Optionally, the system 30 retrieves or otherwise obtains the resultingdetermination from the payment network 30, formats the same into an SMSor other text message 54, and forwards the message 54 to the device 12for receipt by the consumer 10. Alternately, the system 30 may beequipped with or have access to an interactive voice response (IVR)system which is employed to request the authentication credentials fromthe consumer 10 (e.g., via a voice telephone call placed to the device12 which is implemented as a mobile telephone). Similarly, the IVRsystem may also optionally be employed to return the resultingdetermination to the consumer 10.

As can be appreciated from FIG. 1, in connection with any given type oftransaction, often multiple text, SMS or other like messages (e.g.,messages 14, 50, 52 and 54) are exchanged between the device 12 and thesystem 30 to complete the transaction. Additionally, depending upon theparticular type of transaction, there may be an exchange of multiplemessages between the device 12 and the system 30 before a completedorder 32 can be submitted to the OMS 22. For example, the informationcontained in message 14 may alternately be acquired by the system 30 viaa plurality of separate queries and replies, or authentication may beexecuted before the order 32 is submitted. However, conventionally suchmessages are “session free.” That is to say, in conventional textmessaging there is no dedicated session established between the messagesending and message receiving nodes. Rather, each message is essentiallyan autonomous communication.

Accordingly, it is desirable to recognize and/or group messages relatedto the same transaction to avoid confusion, e.g., if the same consumer10 or device 12 is engaged in multiple transactions at the same time.More specifically, for example, a second transaction may be started bysending a second text message 14 before the first transaction isconcluded by the sending of the message 54. In this case, it becomesdesirable, for example, to determine if a reply received by the system30 from the device 12 relates to the first transaction or the secondtransaction.

In one suitable embodiment, the system 30 includes or otherwise hasaccess to and/or maintains a transaction (TX) DB 33. In the TX DB 33various messages exchanged between the device 12 and the system 30 arestored, organized and/or grouped, for example, into records or the likeaccording to the particular transaction to which they relate. Forexample, when the system 30 receives the message 14 initiating a newtransaction, it is assigned a unique TX ID or other like identifier andit is stored or otherwise recorded in the TX DB 33 under or otherwiseindexed by this identifier. Similarly, the corresponding message 52 sentfrom the system 30 to the device 12 is likewise recorded in the TX DB 33using the established TX ID, and so on for messages 54 and 56. In thismanner, the plurality of otherwise autonomous messages relating to oneparticular transaction are linked or chained together. Moreover, basedon the particular type of transaction as determined from one or more ofthe previously exchanged messages corresponding to the same TX ID, thesystem 30 is able to know or predict the form and/or type of messagethat is expected next for that particular transaction. That is to say,by link or chaining the messages together in this manner, the system 30is able to recognized where in the process a transaction is, i.e., howfar the transaction has progressed at a given point in time. Forexample, at a particular point during a transaction, based upon one ormore messages already recorded in the TX DB 33 under the given TX ID,the system 30 knows to expect authentication credentials or some otherallowable form or type of reply or message from the device 12.Accordingly, if the consumer 10 or device 12 is engaged in multipletransactions, based upon the form or type of message received from thedevice 12, the system 30 is able to identify which transaction themessage belongs to and record it in the TX DB 33 under or index by theproper TX ID. Moreover, for a given transaction, if an expected messageis not received within a set or otherwise determined period of time, thesystem 30 may optionally “time out” or otherwise consider thattransaction void.

With reference to FIG. 2, suitably the text message processingsystem/server 30 is also provisioned to function without accessing thepayment network. For example, as illustrated, the system 30 directlyconnects or otherwise communicates with a payment account processor ormanager 42 which maintains an account for the consumer 10. For example,the payment account processor/manager 42 may maintain for the consumer10 a prepaid credit card account or a deposit account or other similarlyfunded account. Accordingly, when the text message 14 is received by thesystem 30, if it identifies a payment account maintained by theprocessor/manager 42, then the system communicates withprocessor/manager 42 to determine if sufficient funds are available tocover the purchase amount. Assuming the payment account is sufficientlyfunded, the processor/manager 42 is instructed by the system 30 to setaside the purchase amount from the remainder of the account funds (i.e.,so as to be otherwise unusable), and the order 32 is placed to themerchant 20. Suitably, the order 32 still identifies the deliverydestination as corresponding to the consumer 10 (e.g., either asindicated in the message 14 or as obtained from the CIS DB 32). However,in this embodiment, the owner or operator of the system 30 assumes thepayment obligation on behalf of the consumer 10 and seeks reimbursementtherefor from the processor/manager 42, i.e., out of the set asidefunds. For example, the payment to the merchant 20 and the reimbursementfrom the processor/manager 42 is optionally automatically carried outvia an electronic funds transfer or the like. Depending upon therelationship between the parties or agreed upon terms, the foregoingsettlement may be conducted on a per transaction basis or in batches atscheduled or otherwise determined intervals.

Suitably, as illustrated in FIG. 2, certain products and/or servicespurchased from the merchant 20, may be amenable to “electronic delivery”via a text, SMS or other like message. Accordingly, optionally, thesystem 30 obtains the item to be delivered from the merchant 20 andformats and sends a suitable message 56 to the device 12. Morespecifically, for example, the merchant 20 may sell wireless PINs(personal identification numbers) used to obtain wireless airtime,calling card minutes or the like. Accordingly, the wireless PIN oraccess code or call card number or the like is optionally obtained bythe system 30 at or about the time the purchase is made, and sent fromthe system 30 to the device 12 in the text, SMS or other like message56.

With reference to FIG. 3, the text message processing system/server 30is also optionally provisioned to support non-commercial transactions oractivities, e.g., such as obtaining requested information from a DB. Asillustrated, the system 30 is operatively connected to or incommunication with a information server 24, e.g., which is a legacyinformation server such as a web server, DB server, some combinationthereof or the like. Suitably, the information server 24 includes orotherwise has access to an information DB 26, and upon request providesinformation therefrom in other than a text message or SMS format, e.g.,as web pages or the like. Moreover, suitably the server 24 is notprovisioned to receive and/or interpret text or SMS messages.

Accordingly, in the present embodiment, suitably, the text message 14includes a requested for selected information from the DB 26. In,response to the received text message 14, the system 30 parses themessage 14 to identify the request and formats and sends an appropriatesignal or communication to server 24 to obtain the requested informationtherefrom. Having obtained the requested information, the system 30 thenformats and/or otherwise includes the requested information in a text,SMS or other like message 58 which is returned to the device 12. As canbe appreciated the present embodiment has many applications, e.g., thepresent embodiment is optionally implemented to support mobile banking,i.e., to conduct balance inquires or otherwise check the status of anaccount or to obtain other account information which may be stored inthe DB 26. Optionally, in addition to merely requesting and/or obtaininginformation, the system 30 is optionally provisioned and/or used tomanipulate information, e.g., the transfer funds from one bank accountto another or the like. Accordingly, rather than message 14 including aninformation request, it includes instructions to achieve a selectedmanipulation of the information.

Of course, while not explicitly illustrated in FIG. 2 or 3, it is to beappreciated that authentication may still be carried out, e.g.,optionally in a manner similar to that described with reference toFIG. 1. However, in any case, alternate authentication protocols mayalso optionally be implemented.

Suitably, the authentication infrastructure supported by the system 30optionally uses different authentication technologies based on the typeof transaction that is being processed. For example, the message 52containing the authentication credentials is separate from the message14 originating the transaction. The authentication credential request 50and response message 52 are optionally exchanged using two different SMSCenters (SMSCs). Suitably, to force the response message 52 to use anSMSC different from the one used by message 50, the “reply to addresses”in the SMS header of the message 50 is set to a different SMSC address.Operating in this manner with two different SMSCs allows for highertransactional security, particularly in the case of sensitiveauthentication credentials.

In connection with the particular exemplary embodiments presentedherein, certain structural and/or function features are described asbeing incorporated in particular embodiments. It is to be appreciatedthat different aspects of the exemplary embodiments may be selectivelyemployed as appropriate to achieve other alternate embodiments suitedfor desired applications, the other alternate embodiments therebyrealizing the respective advantages of the aspects incorporated therein.

Additionally, it is to be appreciated that certain elements describedherein as incorporated together may under suitable circumstances bestand-alone elements or otherwise divided. Similarly, a plurality ofparticular functions described as being carried out by one particularelement may be carried out by a plurality of distinct elements actingindependently to carry out individual functions, or certain individualfunctions may be split-up and carried out by a plurality of distinctelements acting in concert. Alternately, some elements or componentsotherwise described and/or shown herein as distinct from one another maybe physically or functionally combined where appropriate.

In short, the present specification has been set forth with reference toexemplary embodiments. Obviously, modifications and alterations willoccur to others upon reading and understanding the presentspecification. It is intended that the inventive subject matter beconstrued as including all such modifications and alterations insofar asthey come within the scope of the appended claims or the equivalentsthereof.

1. A text message processing system comprising: a text messageprocessing server that is operative to: receive a first text messagefrom a party, the first text message including an identification ofinformation being sought by the party and instructions to manipulate theidentified information; parse the first text message to identify theinformation being sought by the party; generate a request for theidentified information and manipulate the identified information inaccordance with the instructions, the request being in a format otherthan a text message format; submit the request to an information serverhaving access to the identified information; obtain the identifiedinformation as manipulated from the information server, the obtainedinformation being in a format other than a text message format; includethe obtained information in a second text message; and send the secondtext message back to the party.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein thetext message is in short message service (SMS) format and the textmessage is addressed in an SMS shortcode.
 3. The system of claim 1,further comprising: a party information database storing informationrelating to the first party; a transaction database storing messagesexchanged between the party and the text message processing server.
 4. Atext message processing system comprising: a party information databasestoring information relating to the first party; and a text messageprocessing server that is operative to: receive a first text messagefrom a party, the first text message including an identification ofinformation being sought by the party; generate a request for theidentified information when the identified information is not stored inthe party information database, the request being in a format other thana text message format; submit the request to an information serverhaving access to the identified information; receive the identifiedinformation in a format other than a text message format; include thereceived information in a second text message; and send the second textmessage back to the party.
 5. The system of claim 4, wherein the textmessage is in short message service (SMS) format and the text message isaddressed in an SMS shortcode.
 6. The system of claim 4, furthercomprising: a transaction database storing messages exchanged betweenthe party and the text message processing server.
 7. A system forconducting a commercial transaction, the system comprising: a textmessage processing server that is operative to: receive a text messagefrom a first party making a purchase from a second party; identify basedupon the received text message a payment account of the first party tobe used to pay for the purchase; send a communication to a third partythat maintains the identified payment account for the first party todetermine if the payment account has sufficient funds available to makethe purchase; and if sufficient funds are available: instruct the thirdparty to reserve those funds; generate an order for the purchase; submitthe generated order to the second party, assuming an obligation to payfor the order on behalf of the first party; seek restitution for theobligation to pay for the order out of the reserved funds.
 8. The systemof claim 7, wherein the text message is in short message service (SMS)format and the address to which the text message is addressed in an SMSshortcode.
 9. The system of claim 7, further comprising: a partyinformation database storing information relating to the first party; atransaction database storing messages exchanged between the first partyand the text message processing server.
 10. A system for conducting acommercial transaction, said system comprising: a text messageprocessing server that is operative to: receive a text message from afirst party making a purchase from a second party; identify based uponthe received text message a payment account of the first party to beused to pay for the purchase; send a communication to a third party thatmaintains the payment account for the first party to determine if thepayment account has sufficient funds available to make the purchase; andif sufficient funds are available: instruct the third party to reservethose funds; generate an order for the purchase; submit the generatedorder to the second party; and, assume an obligation to pay for theorder on behalf of the first party, seeking restitution for theobligation to pay for the order out of the reserved funds.
 11. Thesystem of claim 10, wherein the purchase is for a product, and whereinthe text message includes an identification of the product.
 12. Thesystem of claim 10, wherein the text message processing server isfurther operative to: select based upon the received text message apayment instrument to be used to pay for the purchase; and, establishpayment information related to the selected payment instrument anddelivery information indicating where a product being purchased is to bedelivered.
 13. The system of claim 10, wherein the order includes theestablished payment information, delivery information and identificationof the product being purchased.
 14. The system of claim 10, wherein theorder is submit to an order management system of the second party. 15.The system of claim 10, wherein the third party is a payment processingnetwork.
 16. The system of claim 10, wherein the text message processingserver is further operative to: receive a signal from the paymentprocessing network; generate in response to the received signal a textmessage requesting authentication credentials; send the text messagegenerated in response to the received signal to the first party; receivea reply text message containing authentication credentials from thefirst party; and, forward the received authentication credentials to thepayment processing network.
 17. The system of claim 10, furthercomprising: a party information database storing information relating tothe first party; a transaction database storing messages exchangedbetween the first party and the text message processing server.
 18. Atext message processing system comprising: a text message processingserver that is operative to: receive a first text message from a party,the first text message including an identification of a product orservice being sought by the party; generate a request for the product orservice, the request being in a format other than a text message format;submit the request to an information server having access to the productor service; obtain the product or service from the information server,the obtained product or service being in a format other than a textmessage format; include the product or service in a second text message;and send the second text message back to the party.
 19. The system ofclaim 18, wherein the product or service comprises a wireless personalidentification number (PIN) for wireless airtime or a calling cardnumber for calling card minutes.
 20. The system of claim 18, wherein thetext message is in short message service (SMS) format and the textmessage is addressed in an SMS shortcode.